Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (Collaborative agreements, USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Collaborative agreements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Agreed amount payable to a large healthcare provider to acquire certain data to be used in a joint development project	$ 10
Agreed amount payable to a large healthcare provider to acquire certain data to be used in a joint development project, current	3.5
Expense reimbursement, recorded as a reduction in research and development expense	$ 4.6

Name:

nuan_ReimbursementOfSharedResearchAndDevelopmentCosts

Namespace Prefix:

nuan

Data Type:

xbrli:monetaryItemType

Balance Type:

debit

Period Type:

duration